Faraj Aalaei
InvestorFounderFounding General Partner at Candou Ventures · Founder at Cognichip
Atherton, California, United States
FoundedCognichip
Find your path to Faraj
80 people in our graph share verified history with Faraj — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Chris RustunlockedFaraj: together at University of Massachusetts Lowell (1983–1985)
×2Faraj: together at Cognichip
Faraj: together at Aquantia
×2Faraj: together at Wentworth Institute of Technology
About
Faraj Aalaei is the Founder and CEO of Cognichip Inc., an AI company developing Artificial Chip Intelligence (ACI), and has worked in the communications and networking industries for four decades. He previously co-founded and led Centillium and Aquantia, both of which he took through IPO; after Marvell Semiconductors acquired Aquantia, he served as Executive VP overseeing Marvell's Networking and Automotive businesses. Aalaei holds a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and an honorary Doctor of Engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology, an MSEE from the University of Massachusetts, and an MBA from the University of New Hampshire.
Founder at Cognichip
Intro paths
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In turn, Faraj can intro founders to Cognichip's investors below.
Cognichip's investors · 8
Candou VenturesMenlo Park · $500K – $1M checksFPVJackson · $100K – $5M checksGlobal Catalyst Partners JapanTokyoLux CapitalNew York · $100K – $100M checksMayfield FundCupertino · $500K – $12M checksNewBuild.VCPalo AltoSBI InvestmentTokyo · $2M – $227M checksVSC VenturesSan Francisco · $500K – $750K checks
Co-founders at Cognichip
EK
Ehsan KamalinejadFounder
Experience
- Cognichip Inc.Founder & Chief Executive Officercurrent2024 — presentCalifornia, United States
- Candou VenturesFounding General Partnercurrent2016 — presentPalo Alto, California, United States
- Marvell SemiconductorExecutive Vice President2019 — 2020Santa Clara County, California, United States
- AquantiaPresident and CEO2009 — 2019
- AquantiaChairman & CEO2009 — 2019San jose, ca USA
- Centillium CommunicationsFounder, CEO1997 — 2008
- Fujitsu Network CommunicationsDirector, Access Product Planning1993 — 1997
- AT&T Bell LaboratoryMTS1985 — 1993
- M/A-COMDesign Engineer1981 — 1985
Skills & more
Semiconductors77Entrepreneurship35Start-ups77CEOs11Visionary Thinking3Marketing Strategy11Go-to-market Strategy17Strategic Partnerships23Product Management31ASIC29SoC11Wireless11
+10 more
AnalogICProduct MarketingDigital Signal ProcessorsEmbedded SystemsVoIPWireless TechnologiesApplication-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC)Integrated Circuits (IC)System on a Chip (SoC)Languages English · Farsi
From Faraj's professional profile.
Colleagues at Candou Ventures
Faraj Aalaei
Founding General Partner at Candou Ventures
Laleh Masnavi
Operating Partner at Candou Ventures
Linda Reddick
CFO at Candou Ventures
Mehdi Maghsoodnia
Venture Partner at Candou Ventures
Nader Vasseghi
Venture Partner at Candou Ventures
Richard Thoms
Executive Officer at Candou Ventures
Sallee Hartbeck
Administrative Lead at Candou Ventures
Shahin Hedayat
Founding General Partner at Candou Ventures
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Faraj Aalaei?
- Faraj Aalaei is the Founder and CEO of Cognichip Inc., an AI company developing Artificial Chip Intelligence (ACI), and has worked in the communications and networking industries for four decades. He previously co-founded and led Centillium and Aquantia, both of which he took through IPO; after Marvell Semiconductors acquired Aquantia, he served as Executive VP overseeing Marvell's Networking and Automotive businesses. Aalaei holds a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and an honorary Doctor of Engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology, an MSEE from the University of Massachusetts, and an MBA from the University of New Hampshire.
- Where does Faraj Aalaei work?
- Faraj Aalaei is Founder of Cognichip and Founding General Partner at Candou Ventures.
- What companies did Faraj Aalaei found?
- Faraj Aalaei founded Cognichip.
- Where did Faraj Aalaei go to school?
- Faraj Aalaei studied at Wentworth Institute of Technology (Honorary Doctorate in Engineering); UNH Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics (MBA); University of Massachusetts Lowell (MSEE, Communications).
Founder mafias
University of Massachusetts Lowell mafia14
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Jeremy AchinFounded Neo Cybernetica +2Dr. Sumedh P. SurwadeDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)Founded SAS Nanotechnologies +1Steven FitzsimmonsBachelor of Science (BS)Founded FreshpaintTom de GodoyMaster of Science (M.S.)Founded DataRobotNish ChasmawalaBSFounded Consure MedicalRam SudireddyMSFounded Bento
+ 7 more
UNH Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics mafia7
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Wentworth Institute of Technology mafia4
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Candou Ventures mafia3
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended Wentworth Institute of Technology12
Lloyd CarneyStrategic Advisor at Vertical Venture PartnersOri MaciSoftware Architect at Arcadia FundsJoseph WalkerAssociate at Arcadia FundsSemir JahicVenture Partner at Endeit CapitalEric M. RubensteinPartner, Co-Founder, President of Sales at Intuitive Venture PartnersMohamed AltawashVenture Partner - KSA at Rasmal Ventures
+ 6 more
Also attended UNH Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics21
Myles MaloofFinance Associate at Bain Capital CryptoMark RobinsonFounder and Managing Director at WAVE Equity PartnersJessica NelsonPrincipal at New North VenturesCarroll ScottExecutive Assistant at TrueBridge Capital PartnersJanelle GormanCFO at York IEMike VeilleuxCTO & Managing Director, Operating Platform at York IE
+ 15 more
Also attended University of Massachusetts Lowell26
Chris RustCo-Founder and Partner at Clear VenturesSamar JahanVice President of Finance at Mission BiocapitalAudrey Hernon GuzasIT Manager at HLM Investment PartnersSatoshi KonagaiInvestment Lead at Astellas Venture Management LLCLeo CaseyHead of Republic of Ireland at Business Growth FundJeremy AchinGeneral Partner at Cortical Ventures
+ 20 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Cognichip Inc.4
Also worked at Marvell Semiconductor34
Curtis McKeePartner at Third Point VenturesShawn KungInvestor at Inception Studio CapitalAviad ArielGeneral Partner at Vertex Ventures IsraelNersi NazariFounder & Executive Chairman, VitalConnect at 1Flourish CapitalHen KletterVP at BRM CapitalDaniel YooMarketing Partner at Woven Capital
+ 28 more
Also worked at Aquantia6
Rohini ChakravarthyInvestment Advisory Council at Neythri Futures FundLip-Bu TanFounding Managing Partner at Celesta CapitalSallee HartbeckAdministrative Lead at Candou VenturesEric O'BrienInvestor at Fall Line CapitalMark VollExecutive Officer at Renovo RxHiok-Tiaq NgCo-Founder and VP, Analog Engineering at Aviva Links
